Today I found myself reflecting on how much I've grown to enjoy AUJ the more I watch it. Honestly, I'm finding it to be a more enjoyable adaptation than LOTR thus far in each trilogy *ducks thrown objects* (Notice I said enjoyable, not better. I'm not interested in that kind of comparison, yet). I see so much of the book's heart in it, which is so wonderful after the long wait for these films.

Finally, last December, I was taken back into Middle-earth as Bilbo narrated the prologue. Memories of reading a book about a fantasy land as a child, with neat characters and creatures aplenty, were flooding my head at the time. It was escapism at its finest. Now that AUJ is out, I can supplement my enjoyment of the book with a visual interpretation of very high quality. I continue to increase my interest and knowledge of Tolkien's works.

Of course, the film is not without flaws. Some shots I find to have strange lighting. Deviations and changes to the original text are evident. Some are yet to be explained. But I refuse to dwell on the not-so-good parts. I'm a positive person, and I will always move forward with the positives in any circumstance. Yes, I can be critical of the lesser moments. I seek to understand artistic choices that are made. But I will not allow them to lessen my enjoyment of what I feel to be a fantastic film.

Now that it's September, we only have just over three months until DOS! I'm very hopeful that this next chapter will be a wonderful journey back into the Company's adventure. A trailer and vlog should be out within the month or so, so we'll soon have plenty of material to gobble up!

Anyone else like to share your thoughts? Or am I the only one feeling reflective today?

I finished watching Return of the King last night and am really looking forward to another round of AUJ - and even more looking forward to the extended version, though there are still some months to wait for that.

There is so much in the film that captures the atmosphere of the book perfectly for me. Little scenes keep coming back to me - I'm thinking just now of Bilbo and the dwarves riding down a steep gully, and - I think at this point - Gandalf's voice telling Bilbo he's going to have to manage without pocket handkerchiefs. And the nods to Bullroarer Took and the Blue Wizards - and Bilbo running through the Shire.

I'll go with better, I think, as well as more enjoyable, because it's on repeat viewings that I start to see all the little details, and appreciate the skill and care that goes into every tiny piece of design, and the thought process behind the way they're approaching the story.

And visually it's just breathtaking.

No, count me in. After the long wait we had for The Hobbit, and all the moments when it looked as if it might never be, I'm so grateful that they stuck with it and made this film.

I perfectly agree and loved AUJ, I've watched it more times in the past 9 months, than I have any other film in said period.

I loved the changes, I just felt, the execution was lacking in some small areas of the film, which I believe happened due to the late change from 2-to-3 films. Nevertheless, I've sat through all 160 minutes and always enjoyed each watch.

In many ways, a direct adaptation of The Hobbit wouldn't work as well, as it would be predictable in many ways. The changes that have happened, and we know will happen in DOS allow the imagination to run wild about what might happen.

I've read The Hobbit and LOTR many of times as well, but not Tolkiens expanded work, but have no problem with changes as long as they are not silly. And nothing in AUJ nor rumoured in DOS (including romance) seems silly to me. For some people, these changes ruin it for them, which I lament, but hey, I'm not them, I go and enjoy whatever happens.

So heres to the jolly AUJ, and look forward to the EE of AUJ, as well as the next two films. Allons Y

the hobbit is like the little brother of LOTR; less down-to-earth, trying to introduce his own personality, with more of an adventure spirit and lacking a bit of maturity. He tries to be different in every single aspect, and yet in his heart he will always resemble his big brother.

And I, as a father, love both sons the same, (although I have to admit that FOTR will always be THE movie)

I still remember where I sat and how I felt when we first saw the Shire again! I remember when everyone laughed at the funny moments and how bright the eagle flight was when it came on. Whenever I re-watch AUJ and the eagle flight comes on, I always think to myself 'This is why I am so proud to be a Tolkien fan and to be part of this world. We CAN have both film and book.' I simply walked into Mordor.

Today marks 100 days until DoS is released in some countries.
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102 for the UK and US, so this is a good time for reflection.

My first viewing didn't have a huge impact on me. I'd spent so many years building up excitement and when I finally saw the film at my local cinema (a really cheap place, slightly out of focus screen only a little bigger than my TV!) I wasn't hugely impressed.

But over time it really does improve! I've watched it several times on Blu-ray and every time I feel a longing to re-watch the HFR version. After seeing it that way, the Blu-ray looks so juddery that I feel compelled to turn on the motion smoothing on my TV, and even then it;s just not the same.

I really hope the trilogy gets a re-release in HFR cinemas. Or that a home HFR format becomes available soon, because it just doesn't feel right to me any other way.

I don't love AUJ quite as much as I do the LotR trilogy, but that's not surprising since The Hobbit novel is a lesser sibling to LotR for me, mostly of interest as part of the Middle Earth saga.

AUJ is closer to PJ's LotR in my esteem than The Hobbit novel is to the LotR books, if that makes any sense.

There are many things that I appreciate about this movie: here are just a couple:

I really like how the movie walks the line between the English children's story and something of more interest to a wider audience.

I like the beauty of it, the way that ME is almost a character. Also, just as in LotR, the attention to every detail of set, costume, makeup etc. makes the world of the movie richer and deeper.

There are things I don't care for, the overlong action sequences, the childish humour, but overall I think it's great.

Looking forward to DOS - Thranduil, Tauriel, Legolas, Bard and his three kids, the Master and of course, Erebor and the Dragon.

I am in accord with almost all of your points!

One of the pleasures for me was discovering, through Tolkien's later works, the significance of The Hobbit in the overall scope of his Legendarium - how Bilbo's adventure fits into the bigger picture. That is why I am quite happy to have the DG subplot and Gandalf's view of Middle-earth slotted in alongside Bilbo's simple tale. I just didn't want the invented padding, and the other things you don't care for. The visual aesthetics I'll leave out of this. At least 3D is still optional!!

I particularly agree with this statement:

Quote

I like the beauty of it, the way that ME is almost a character. Also, just as in LotR, the attention to every detail of set, costume, makeup etc. makes the world of the movie richer and deeper.

I would add HS's music to that list as well...

So overall I'm looking forward to DoS, particularly Lee Pace, I'm just worried about the proportion of made-up material compared to Bilbo's story... "Choosing Trust over Doubt gets me burned once in a while, but I'd rather be singed than hardened." ¯ Victoria Monfort

I heartily agree with your post. I loved AUJ with all my heart, just as I love theLOTR trilogy with all my heart. I loved it and always will love it and look forward to the future movies and EEs. ''We are very dangerous over short distances''

I joined TORN. I was so enamored of the film, I wanted to find others who shared my enthusiasm, and to find out more about the people and the process of making the trilogy. This seemed like the best place for that, and I've not been disappointed :).

I loved tLotR, and I was enchanted by the level of care and craftsmanship that went into those movies. I was thoroughly awed by how they hit so many of the crucial pulse points of that story with such power and insight. But as great as it was, the first trilogy didn't hit me in the same way as AUJ did, and I've tried to figure out why.

I think it comes down to the dwarves. All respect to John Rhys Davies, but I didn't have high hopes for a movie populated by 13 Gimlis. But they didn't do that, they created 13 unique individuals who had the capacity to function as a cohesive unit. They were like nothing I could have imagined and I was blown away. I loved how their looks were designed and I love how the actors worked so hard to shine through all that rubber and all that hair :).

I've never gone to the theatre so many times to see the same movie before. I'd've gone even more if it hadn't left the cinemas so soon. I've watched my live-streaming copy more times than I can count, saying the lines along with the characters.

Agree with all your points, and happy to post in this thread!
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I joined TORN. I was so enamored of the film, I wanted to find others who shared my enthusiasm, and to find out more about the people and the process of making the trilogy. This seemed like the best place for that, and I've not been disappointed :).

It's why I re-joined Esmeralda (for the third time! having forgotten my other ancient nicks!) I went in with really no expectations, and didn't really follow pre- production very much, other than watching SPJ's blogs a bit behind schedule. I went into FOTR being a massive skeptic, and fell in love with it. I went in here with not quite so much doubt but didn't expect at all to love this film as much as I do! I feel the spirit of the book in every scene...yes changes have been made to meet the adaptation needs but I can live with all of them, and some of them I quite frankly enjoy. (And glad you joined up BTW!)

I think it comes down to the dwarves. All respect to John Rhys Davies, but I didn't have high hopes for a movie populated by 13 Gimlis. But they didn't do that, they created 13 unique individuals who had the capacity to function as a cohesive unit. They were like nothing I could have imagined and I was blown away. I loved how their looks were designed and I love how the actors worked so hard to shine through all that rubber and all that hair :). Also cannot agree more here. The creativity of the design team and wonderful casting all came together. I was just listening to cast commentary for ROTK last night, and the actors were discussing how SPJ lets an actor know their character, and to develop them in unique and unexpected (and sometimes undirected) ways. That is such a measure of faith and I think that ownership and joy in one's work comes through in the performances. I love Gimli, but I also love the departure from that mold; among other things it allows Gimli to retain his uniqueness when you watch the other films. The resemblance to his father is a great nod (or of course to be precise, the retro-fitting of Gloin to Gimli is a touching connection between them.)

Is there a Tolkien topic that you have wanted to look into more deeply, and write about your thoughts on it? If so, we'd like to hear from you for the next TORn Amateur Symposium- coming in November. Happy writing!

What a lovely Sunday morning read! Is there a Tolkien topic that you have wanted to look into more deeply, and write about your thoughts on it? If so, we'd like to hear from you for the next TORn Amateur Symposium- coming in November. Happy writing!

This is what truly lifted AUJ above, blockbuster/CGI/franchise, or whatever mud people want to throw at AUJ.

I caught one of my all time favourite films on Tv last week; Twelve Angry Men and I realised as I watched it none of the characters have names, none of he actors stopped acting when the camera wasn't focussed on them, the acting was of such calibre it didn't matter that the audience didn't know names, they knew the characters, their differences, their foibles, thanks to the craftsmanship of of the thesbians involved. That is exactly what AUJ acheived with the dwarves. Twelve Angry Men is an old black and white film, and by tpday's standards obviously filmed on set, yet the stunning script aside, it is a classic because of the high calibre of acting, the look of a film has very little to do with whether a film becomes a classic, bad or fashionable acting doesn't stand the test of time, but good acting always does.

The acting in AUJ is far more constitent and of a higher standard than LOTR and most films released and that is saying something as CGI heavy films, as AUJ is, are usually hallmarked by bad or so-so acting as most actors struggle with the format.

Fantastic comparison between AUJ and 12 Angry Men. The latter is one of my favorite films (now I want to watch it again!). I really think that its script is one of the best there have been. Which, like you say, is brilliantly translated by the actors' performances. I'm always amazed, when thinking about it, that it's a movie that mostly takes place in one room! That is a screenwriter's nightmare.

I also love seeing actors' performances in the background of a scene. In 12 Angry Men, I find it fascinating to watch one of the characters sit back down/walk around the room fuming with opinion after speaking their mind. They all do it in unique ways, with varying degrees of passion and self-control. I see the same things in AUJ. I'm getting to the point where I can move my eyes all over the screen, sometimes looking over the shoulders of Bilbo and Thorin, and watch the supporting cast to their work. They're all very expressive, especially with their eyes--and I'm sure prosthetics played a part with this, too.

Finally, last December, I was taken back into Middle-earth as Bilbo narrated the prologue. Memories of reading a book about a fantasy land as a child, with neat characters and creatures aplenty, were flooding my head at the time. It was escapism at its finest. Now that AUJ is out, I can supplement my enjoyment of the book with a visual interpretation of very high quality. I continue to increase my interest and knowledge of Tolkien's works.

Especially the very last sentence in the above passage. Anything that promotes Tolkien's works is good in my eyes.

It doesn't matter that you don't know the characters names
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because you come to know the characters. PJ knows that the general audience won't be able to name all twelve dwarfs, even with different looks, it's still down to the actors to draw their characters on screen, without words or just a single line.

Like you say this is with actors that are under prosthetics, although in some cases this has been deliberately minimised, to allow the audience to witness the acting, 12 actors plastered in the kind of prosthetics poor JRD had to endure, would have been a disaster from both an aesthetic and thesbian point of view.

Here's another idea to consider: I really enjoy the approach they are taking to introduce the dwarves to the audience. Really, isn't it exactly like they're introduced in the book? We, like Beorn, are receiving them a couple at a time, so that they do not overwhelm us with their tale. Although this has not been done in the adaptation as in the text (yet), I believe we are receiving it as audience members.

I've liked this strategy from the beginning. And going off of your point, we do see the other dwarves' characters, despite the lack of dialogue for some. As the films develop them, we'll see more and more of the bigger picture.

would look too childish on the screen, it would denigrate Tolkien's dwarves to nothing more than stereotypical comedy buffoons, and not the hardened noble warriors and craftsmen of middle-earth. yes, the burping and such was comedy but it was character based comedy, not stereotype comedy and the burping was deliberate act by the character Nori, to get a reaction, he knew it was rude and bad mannered and would wind his brother up. I wish those that expressed revulsion at the burping would watch the acting rather than the act.